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Hopewell's Joe Panik surging in spring as Giants' opener approaches

Journal staff
Published 8:34 a.m. ET March 24, 2018

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Hopewell Junction's Joe Panik, a star for the San Francisco Giants, returned to New York healthy, recently wed and happy to see his family, even if that includes doing chores.
Stephen Haynes/Poughkeepsie Journal

San Francisco Giants second baseman Joe Panik poses for a portrait during media day at Scottsdale Stadium.(Photo: Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today)

After an up-and-down 2017 that ended with Joe Panik showing signs of a return to All-Star form, Dutchess County’s Major League Baseball star has continued that momentum this spring.

With less than a week until the start of the regular season, the John Jay High School graduate is surging at the plate and preparing for a new role within the Giants’ lineup. And, the team is looking to bounce back from a miserable 2017 in which the losses nearly broke into the triple digits.

Entering Saturday’s exhibition game against the Class AAA Sacramento River Cats, Panik was hitting .318 for the spring, with two home runs in 44 at-bats, nine runs, six RBI, and four walks. He put an exclamation point on the preseason on Wednesday, with a three-hit performance, including a home run, two RBI and three runs scored, against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

With three spring contests left this week, a series with the Oakland Athletics, the second baseman from Hopewell Junction is enjoying his best preseason ever; only his first season in 2012 featured a higher batting average, though that .429 mark was earned in just seven at-bats.

The surge comes after Panik agreed to a new contract with San Francisco in the offseason, a one-year, $3.45 million deal.

Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo and San Francisco Giants second baseman Joe Panik talk in the first inning at Scottsdale Stadium on Thursday.(Photo: Rick Scuteri/USA Today)

It also comes at the right time for his team. Manager Bruce Bochy has said he plans to use Panik as the Giants’ leadoff batter against right-handed pitchers. Panik was moved around the lineup a year ago, most often hitting second or seventh.

The Giants a year ago lost 98 games, an uncharacteristically disappointing ending for a team that won a World Series in 2014, Panik’s rookie season.

However, while the team floundered, Panik enjoyed a return to form in the second half of the season after an uneven opening set of months.

The 2015 All-Star hit .301 in April, but .192 in May. He hit .356 in June, but .216 in July.

Panik hit .305 in August, though, and .375 in September. In all, he finished batting .288 with 10 homers, 28 doubles and 53 RBI over 138 games for the year.

Bochy believes his whole team can likewise bounce back in 2018.

“You talk to the players and you can see a different attitude coming into this spring with what’s happened this offseason,” the manager said. “And also the fact that it’s a new slate and we’re going to be healthy, so there’s a lot of reason to be optimistic.”

The Giants will open the regular season on Thursday with the first of a three-game road series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Panik will not return to New York for the first time this season until the Giants’ four-game series against the New York Mets begins on Aug. 20.